This was a great read. I featured it as Book of the Day on all my social media platforms, and I’ll include it in my monthly roundup of news releases for my Black Fiction Addiction blog.

This was an okay read. Too much unnecessary drama and unrelated stuff got in the way of what could have been a great romance suspense story.

Who are Connie and Trinity? What do they each do for a living? What do we find them talking about at the beginning? Who are Richard, Kya, Trace, and Langston? What does each of them do for a living? What do we learn about how Trace, Trinity, and Connie know one another? When Connie goes to the bank at lunch one day, what happens? What does Connie tell Trace in the car about the bank incident? WHat do we learn about the relationship between Connie and Trace? Who is Vinnie Montell? What do we learn? I could not help but laugh!! Who is Edard? What role did he play in Trace's life? I really liked Erica! What does Connie fall in love with when she visits Trace's place? Why does she end up there? What do we learn about the bank? Who are Daniel and David? Oh goodness, I did not expect what was going on with the suspense part of this romance!

His to Protect was my first book by Sharon C. Cooper, but definitely not my last. I found her writing style to be so compelling and engaging, I was flying through this book! The chemistry between Trace and Connie was really well-executed and I loved all of the secondary characters in this book.

Essentially, this book is about Connie, who is the VP of a personal security firm and she goes to the bank one day and the bank is robbed while she's there. She gets a decent look at one of the robbers and from there, things are off to the races. Trace is one of the employees at this company and he's really attractive. He and Connie also had a one night stand a month or so ago, but Connie has a rule against dating co-workers. However, with Connie in danger, Trace pretty much refuses to leave his side.

The only thing I didn't like about this one is that I still don't really understand what happened with the bank robbery and the other incidents. Like... it just didn't make a lot of sense the way things wrapped up. I was with it until like the last 10% and then I was just confused. However, given how compelling the writing was, I still think this book was excellent and would definitely recommend.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book!

Connie is probably the only witness in the bank robbery who saw what at least one of them looks like and now it seems her life is in danger. One of her coworker Trace who works as a security is trying to protect her every way possible. Clearly the two have some sort of attraction but with Connie's past relationships she's not sure if they should do something about it especially since someone is clearly out to get her.

Love mystery suspense novels and I just couldn't put this book down. I loved the characters, seeing how they were interacting with eachother and seeing that attraction you can't help but root for him. I loved getting to know them hearing about their past and how it impacted them to be the person who they were in this book. I loved at there was plenty going on to keep me interested between the romance sizzling and the wondering when and if the person would strike. Then there was the matter of finding out who the person was. There was just so much to like about this book and I highly recommend.

This was my first book by this author but won't be the last. The suspense sucked me in from the beginning, while the romance was both sweet and steamy. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.

Connie's job at Layton Executive Protection Agency keeps her busy and satisfied, while her social life is a disaster. Thanks to events from her parents' marriage and a romantic betrayal, Connie has some trust issues when it comes to men. Despite one incredible night with security specialist Trace Halstead, Connie refuses to enter into a relationship with him. She claims that she won't date anyone she works with, which puts Trace on her "no-fly" list.

Trace is one of the firm's top security specialists. As the story opens, Connie and her boss have to end his current assignment because their woman client makes inappropriate advances. Meanwhile, Trace can't forget his time with Connie. Though known as a ladies' man before that, since then, he quit going out with other women. Connie is it for him, and he won't give up on getting her to give him another chance.

The book gets off to a running start when a trip to the bank lands Connie in the middle of a bank robbery. To make matters worse, she made eye contact with one of the robbers and saw enough for the FBI to try to make a start at identifying him. When Trace finds out about it, he worries that the robbers could come after her and makes protecting her his mission. Being independent and stubborn, Connie doesn't want to believe that she's in danger but is shaken enough to welcome Trace's company that first night.

I loved Trace. He wants Connie but respects her decision about a relationship, so he does his best to keep things platonic. I liked how he took care of her, cooking for her, just hanging out with her, and being a friend. Connie is just as attracted to Trace but fears risking her heart again. It was fun to see them get to know each other better with things like Twenty Questions.

Meanwhile, the intensity of the suspense increases with possible sightings of the robber and the question of whether he knows who Connie is. An intense confrontation at a fashion show followed by her house's firebombing seems to indicate that he does. I was on the edge of my seat as Trace and Connie barely escaped. I enjoyed seeing Trace and his brother Langton work together to identify him before Trace and Connie headed off to a safe house.

I loved seeing Connie and Trace grow even closer as Connie relaxed her no dating rule. Their happiness despite the situation was fantastic, and Trace looked forward to the end of the case and moving forward with their relationship. Then Connie misunderstood something she overheard, bringing her old fears back to the surface, and accused Trace of being like her ex. I ached for Trace, who was hurt and angered by her lack of trust in him. I had to laugh when his friends staged an intervention, making it possible for him to be there when she identified the robber for the police. But just when they thought it was all over, an unexpected twist put Connie in danger all over again. I was glued to the pages until she was safe in Trace's arms, and they finally admitted their feelings for each other.

3.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this romantic suspense novel set around LEPA security. I thought Connie and Trace were great characters- Trace is a little old-fashioned in style, but I liked that and I liked him. Connie was strong and independent and a little damaged but her character arc was believable and enjoyable.

The premise is that VP of Operations at LEPA Security, Connie, witnesses a bank robbery and is able to identify one of the bank robbers, putting her life in danger. Meanwhile LEPA Security Specialist, Trace, and Connie, have unfinished business and with Connie’s life in danger, they might finally get to address it, as Trace refuses to let her out of his sight.

This was action-packed with interesting twists and turns. The only minor nitpicky issue I had was that sometimes the suspense parts were a little unrealistic, the character’s actions a little irrational and Trace, a teeny weeny bit tendencied to patriarchal ways of “my woman”-ing. It didn’t bother me and indeed I thought it was sexy, but it contributed to a vibe that made me feel a way especially when Connie did what she did and had to grovel. These are not major issues and I enjoyed this book in general, but they were kind of “small stone in the show” bothersome. I thought the supporting characters were wonderful from Connie’s sister to Trace’s brother and best friend, there are lots of characters I won’t mind reading more about . I definitely hope this author does more with this series because I’m into it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Books.

Once again this author has written a book that really draws you into the storyline from the beginning until the end and left me wanting more. I love the two main characters Connie Shaw and Trace Halstead. The way their love for each other developed. Sometimes you have to let past hurt and pain from previous relationships go, otherwise you can miss out on a love relationship that is for you.
Trace was very protective over Connie after she witness her banking officer being shot during a bank robbery. At times I felt so bad for Connie since she was a witness after seeing part of the face of one of the bank robbers, which puts her in danger of the robbers coming after her. Trace is every woman’s dream man, who loves hard and protects his woman at any cost.
I highly recommend this book to read and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Cassandra H.
I voluntarily received a ARC from Netgalley and this review is of my honest opinion and thoughts.

Another hit from Sharon! I so love reading her romantic suspense! Hunky heroes who feel, and can throw a punch when you need him to; heroines who are sensual, whip smart and can kick butt when necessary, and a plot with an element of danger that keeps the storyline racing and engaging. There's also a clever twist that I didn't see coming! Super well written (wish it was in audio, hint hint Harlequin)... looking forward to the next book.

Constance (Connie) Shaw is VP of Operations At Layton Executive Protection Agency (LEPA) that is owned by her best friend, Trinity Layton-Brooks. Business is very good and it’s Connie’s job to make sure it stays that way. While the business is thriving, Connie’s personal life is not doing well, and that’s due to one man, Trace Halstead, security specialist at LEPA. Connie and Trace have irresistible chemistry, but according to Connie’s rules, Trace is off-limits. As far as Trace is concerned, some rules are meant to be broken.
HIS TO PROTECT is a well-written, engaging story that will keep you turning pages. The connection between romance and suspense is natural and believable. I recommend it for your reading pleasure.

This book had suspense, intrigue, sauciness, drama, and unrequited love. Basically, it had it all! I really enjoyed reading about Trace and Connie and to have had the privilege of seeing their relationship strengthen when they were put to the test by outside sources and chaos.

The suspense aspect of the novel made it that much more interesting and I feel that everything Connie and Trace went through really made them closer and drew them together. Trace was so sweet and protective of Connie and I loved hearing about his backstory and how he became the man he was in the book. Connie was a strong, independent, smart and capable woman and She quickly became one of my favorite characters that I’ve read about in awhile.

The writing was casual and really allowed me to get in the heads of both Trace and Connie and I think that the story had just the right level of steaminess to it.

Overall, the book was a great read, easy to follow, and full of action. My only complaint would be that I wished more would have been explained as far as the robbery goes and why David decided to go after Connie too when he potentially had nothing to do with it.

There's something about seeing the Harlequin logo that has me one-clicking, ready to indulge in a great romance. And this author definitely brought me that. This story really got to me. This was hot!